The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-04-08

Fsllcieous speech II Response - = Cor
dial 1seespsloa ~ ~ ~ Loo Msrehsnss'
Exchanga
81. LOUIS, March sl.-Hon. Jas. q. Blaine
and party, consisting AZ Mrs- Blaine, Miss
blaine. Mas Dodge. who has made herself
famous under tho nom do plume Of oan
Hamilton, the cousin OF Mrs. Blaine, and
M. stephen u Elkins. arrived In the city
last night and were met - tho
Union depot By citizon's com
mittee, who escortcd them 70 car
riages In which they were driven % the
Lindell Hotel. Crowds surrounded his
qaarters at the hotel and no was given .
warm welcome. He, In response 70 an In
vItation from the committee appointed Tor
the purpose. stated that he would not
enter into q political speech but accepted
the invitation and delivered the following
az tho Merchants Exchange this Afternoon
20 . large and enthusiastic audience:
Mn. President Ann G~ExrLEMEx or THE
CHAMBER or COMMERCE.: l can well say
that u - equally . surprise and q graf
ihcation 10 myself 70 be here at this mo
mcnt I arrived in YOU beautiful city
last evening. and may say that l wa moi
only honorci with an invitation, but
served with q notice 10 be here NJ this
time. (Applause. And having long
been under good discipline, re.
am sure / feel at home In Missouri, for
old Colonel Benton had q happy remark
which he always addressed 10 Main . men.
that Maine came into the Union on the
back OF Missouri, or Missouri camc into
the Union on the back OF Maine, hs didn't
know which. hut they both got In togcth
or. (Applause And 30 we have had .
strong hond Of sympathy because Of our
twin birth as States In che Federal Union
was IN this city long before the vast
majority Of the gentlemen whom l have
the honor TO address. saw 81 Louis for
the first time very nearly forty years z
I was but q boy. but l found that in tray
cling a boy has larger eyes than'a man OF
mature years; and at that time In the
course Of a few days ramble l knew
every street and alley, and pretty much
every steamboat that landed at our
wharf But though ! have q somewhat
retentivc memory. must say l Am now
lost in the maze OF this magnificent en-
porium. and the little city OF 5000 which
| then found on the banks OF the Missis-
sippi Is altogether unrecognixable to-day.
| therefore, although l have IA the inter
val been here some three or four times,
may claim myself TO be stranger 70 the
great and magnificent proportions which
your city has since ldonot know
myself and could not recognize. A.
started out upon your streets this morn
ing. the old landmarks which were once
familiar 70 me. Your growth, gentlemen,
is the growth Of the Republic. IChcers ]
In a peculiar sense your growth Is the
growth OF the trans-Mississippi Republic
Z republic which Is a far greater one, a
far grander u a far richer one than the
Federal Union when Missouri c a
member or il. And IL is in that great re-
g.on hitherto and rs yet scarcely de-
veiopcd-i l. in that great region
that this city Is 10 have it, i'm
perial growth and its enormous de-
velopment With twenty thousand
miles Of river by which you are connected
with steam navigation. with forty thou
sand miles OF railway in the old territory
nf louisiana. which did not have one sol
itary mile when ! was first Ia this city
with all these vast agencies OF tran sporta-
ton. what NAV not be expected OF this
place., You have that which. as a Repre-.
sentative in Congress-, | was long since
made familiar with--you have that Jeal-
Gus, that watchful carc OF your access 70
the sea lot Which tue "
louisiana was purchased under the q
ministration OF Jefferson
II was 70 give this Western country nc
ccss 10 the open oceans OF the world that
the Mississipdi was desired ~ an Ameri-
can river; and the people OF st. Louis do
well. and the people Of = Louis do wisely
to jeaiously guard that great outlet 70 the
waters OF tbs world loud chcersl. But,
gentlemen. with all the congratulations
which I feel Il in my heart 70 extend q
you. with al the compliments which your
immense growth calls rom every lip, ]
feel that l have one reproach against 81
Louis. fSensationl- feel that ! Y
one reproach against this great trans
Mississippi department. A little ovcI
eighty years ago Il belonged 70 q forcigl
power. and BY the possible
chance IL was kept from falling into thu
hands OF England; but the watchf0 care
the great nerve and courage the states
manlike grasp OF Thomas Jefferson
standing between the policy o
France and the aggressive cDcrg.
Of Great Britain. pluckcd the who'll
territory or Louisiana from the am
bition OF both. and IN sde Il into an Ameri
| can State fchccrsl. and that vast domain
| for which Jefferson gave Sl5,0O,ooO IL nov
represented In seven great and prosper
Gus States and three large Territories
! which in the course Of time will add fou
or i've States, possibly, to tho American
| Union
Never was q conquest 50 great, 80 OK
tensivc. acquired by peaceful methods
Never was sougrcat . conquest made b!
war that . conquering power was able y
holi. Then. let me say, that my rcproacl
TO 81. Louis-my reproach 70 every foo
and every in habitant Of the territory Q
louisiana, - that on its entire surfact
which represents . third part Of h Unit
ed states. there IL not a statue raised 10 IN
honor ofThomas Jefferson. loud cheers.
81 Louis il the capital, the emporium
and will be for all time, OF that which wa
the territory Of Louisiana more cheers
I will be forgiven. I am sure, for remind
ing you that gratitude 70 the great ma
who ~ gone. gratitude TO that great ma
who, In the annals OF America
greatness, should stand next :
Washington, l will be forgiven, ! an
sure. when l say that the duty OF 81 Loui
aud the duty ofthc merchants Of st Loui
il 70 erect within your beautiful city
statue OF him who more than any othe
man bv . scratch OF . pcn, created IN en-
hire. loud cheers.
Grusfemcu thank vou very siucerpl